Saturday, February 11, 2012

Gluten Free Banana Bread


Kudos to whoever came up with this recipe!  I found it in my GF recipe archives and have no idea where it came from.  Trust me, this has to be good since I consider eating bananas akin to Chinese water torture.  In addition, I do not have to eat GF and I still think this tastes normal!  Give it a go and tell me what you think:


Gluten Free Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas*
1 1/2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract (I use pure, not imitation)
1 1/2 cups all purpose baking flour (I had Jules Gluten Free Flour hanging around so I used that)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum (unless your all purpose flour already has it added to it; check bag)

~Mix sugar and butter with mixer til creamed and fluffy.  Mix in eggs one at a time. 

~In a separate bowl, mash bananas and stir in milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Add banana mixture to creamed mixture; stir with mixer.

~Combine remaining dry ingredients and slowly stir into wet mixture until flour disappears.

~Pour mixture into greased standard sized bread loaf pan.  Bake on middle rack of oven at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until the edges and top are golden brown.  

This bread freezes nicely by the way.  I would not keep it out at room temperature for storage as we all know that GF food goes bad quickly!

*Note: If you wouldn't consider eating the bananas, don't put them in your bread!  They should be soft, not spoiled.

While we're on the subject, what is your favorite all purpose gluten free flour?  I have used Jules and one other brand whose name is escaping me at the moment.  Let me know what you prefer and why.  Many thanks!


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A Home for Laurel

Laurel has 6 months to find a family....
 

Laurel is fifteen years old, and she's listed with the "Other Angels" on Reece's Rainbow.  She could be in a place where she is loved.  She could be in a place where a fifteen-year-old's biggest problem is related to school.  Instead, she's in an orphanage, and she has six months to be adopted.  Six months or not at all.  Six months to have a family or be transferred to an adult mental institution.  Six months.  She cannot legally be adopted once she turns sixteen.  It's a terrible, unfair law, but for now, it's what we have to work with.  Please help me to spread the word about this girl.  What she needs more than anything right now is awareness.  She needs for the right people to see her picture and be willing to take action.  She needs people to SHARE.  I've said it before.  There are far too many able adults in this world for a girl like Laurel to go to a place where NOBODY WILL PAY ATTENTION TO HER.  Please, please, please share this post.  Share it on facebook, your own blog, twitter, email, whatever means you happen to have.  Let's get her picture out there.  Her mama is out there somewhere.  Let's keep sharing until she finds her.